Aeration of fluidized solids



United States Patent ice 3,146,034 AERATION 0F FLUIDIZED SOLIDS Robert M. Sharp, Noyle B. Kaigler, William C. Atherton, and Leonard W. Stasney, Jr., Baytown, Tex., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering Company, Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 176,020 8 Claims. (Cl. 302-53) The present invention is directed to aeration of fluidized solids. More particularly, this invention is concerned with aeration of fluidized solids in a standpipe. In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with apparatus and method for aeration of fluidized solids.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 7,146, entitled Aeration of Fluidized Solids, filed February 8, 1960, now abandoned, for Robert M. Sharp, Noyle B. Kaigler, William C. Atherton, and Leonard W. Stasney, Jr.

The present invention may be briefly described as an aeration device for use with a standpipe or vessel containing fluidized finely divided solids flowing therein and therethrough. The device comprises an elongated tubular member provided with ports in its wall adapted to be placed in and extend across a standpipe with the ports facing downwardly. Means are adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of the standpipe for receiving the ends of the tubular member and means are attached to one end of the tubular member for releasably attaching the tubular member to one of the receiving means. The tubular member is provided with means for injecting gasiform fluid such as air, steam, gaseous hydrocarbons, and the like, into one end of the tubular member whereby the gasiform fluid is injectable into the fluid.

The invention is also concerned with a method for aerating fluidized finely divided solids flowing in and through a confined zone which comprises introducing a gasiform fluid into the zone across the diameter thereof at a plurality of vertically spaced-apart'points whereby effective mixing of the finely divided solids and improved flow of solids are etfected.

The device of the present invention and the tubular members thereof may be provided with means adjacent each end for injecting gasiform fluid into the tubular member. One end of the tubular member may be closed, but this end may also be openable for cleaning out the tubular member. The closed end of the tubular member may be provided with a means such as a valve for opening the closed end of the tubular member.

The tubular member is suitably an elongated tubular member provided with ports on one side thereof adapted to be arranged to face downwardly in the standpipe. The tubular member may be made up of one section, but it may have a telescopic section which is movable relative to the other section and telescope thereinto,

It is contemplated that the device of the present invention including the standpipe may comprise a plurality of tubular members each provided With ports in its wall to be removably placed in and extend across the standpipe. Alternate tubular members may be rotated 90 from each other.

The present invention may be described further by reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view partly in section showing the installation of the tubular member of FIG. 1 in a standpipe;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the device of FIG. 1;

3,140,034 Patented Aug. 25, F364 FIG. 3a is an alternative means for supporting one end of the tubular member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is an illustration in section showing means for cleaning out the tubular member and presents an alternate means from that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a mounting of a tubular member with means for injecting air into both ends; and

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a telescopic tubular member in partial section.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, numeral 11 designates the wall of a standpipe provided with a lining 12 which may consist of a 1" thick outer layer of hexagonal grating with castable refractory material and an inner 3" thick layer of insulating concrete adjacent the standpipe wall. Arranged in the wall of the standpipe 11 and extending through the liner 12 is a tubular member 13 which terminates in a flange 14-. Opposite the tubular member 13 and flange 14 in the wall of standpipe 11 and extending through the liner 12 is a tubular member 15 which likewise terminates in a flange 16.

Inserted Within the tubular member 13 is an elongated tubular member 17 provided with a plurality of ports or holes 18 which are adapted to be arranged facing downwardly in the standpipe 11. Attached to one end of the elongated tubular member 17 is a flange member 19 which is adapted to matingly engage with the flange member 14. By bolting the flanges 14 and 19 together by bolts, the elongated tubular member 17 is attached within the standpipe 11. The elongated tubular member 17 is reduced in size towards itsend to a lesser diameter to provide an end 20 to which is attached a valve 21 which, in turn, is connected to a source of a gasiform fluid such as air (not shown). The other end of the elongated tubular member 17 is also reduced in size at end 22 and this end is closed by a member 23, which may be opened. The end 22 and closure member 23 project within a pipe 24 closed by valve 25 to which is attached a flange member 26 adapted to matingly engage with the flange 16 and to be connected thereto by bolts (not shown). In the device of FIG. 1, the end 22 is surrounded by compressible or crushable insulation 27. When it is desired to clean out the elongated tubular member 17, the insulation 27 does not have to be removed since tubular member 17 may be cleaned in operation by drilling through member 23 from outside standpipe 11.

By injecting air through the valve 21 into the end 20, the air discharges downwardly against the flow of fluidized solids in the standpipe 11 and aerates same. When it is desired to clean out the elongated tubular member 17 of any solids which may be contained therein, the valve 25 may be opened and the closure 23 removed such as by drilling out and then a source of air may be introduced through the valve 25 to blow out the accumulation of any solids in the elongated tubular member 1'7.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the standpipe 11 is provided intermediate its ends with a plurality of devices such as the elongated tubular member 17. In this particular instance, each of the elongated tubular members 17 is rotated from the next one above or below such that the gasiform aeration fluid is introduced into the standpipe 11 against and across the flowing fluidized solid which, as shown by the arrows in the drawing, is introduced above the uppermost tubular member 17. By operating the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a sufiicient amount of gasiform fluid being introduced at a pressure suflicient to prevent the finely divided solids from entering port 18, it is possible to aerate the fluidized solids which may have a velocity flow of about 0.5 ft./ sec. to 15 ft./ sec. superficial gas velocity per second.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 3a, a standpipe such as 11 is provided with an elongated tubular member such as 36 provided with ports 31 facing downwardly therein. A flange member 32 has attached thereto a valve 33 which, in turn, is attached to a flange member 34 connected to a packing gland 35, also provided with mating flanges 36. The elongated tubular member 30 has a valve 37 controlling the flow of gasiform fluid such as air introduced therein by line 38 from a source not shown. The elongated tubular member 30 is closed on its free end 39 by a closure member 40 and the free end 39 fits within a recess 41 in the wall of the standpipe 11 opposite the flange 32. By virtue of this embodiment of FIG. 3, the elongated tubular member 30 may be withdrawn while maintaining the standpipe 11 in operation. As an alternative embodiment to FIG. 3, in FIG. 3a the end 39 with the closure 40 extends into a pipe 42 protruding from the wall of the standpipe 11 opposite the flange 32 with the pipe 41 being closed by mating flanges 43.

eferring now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment is shown for cleaning out the tubular member. In this embodiment, a tubular member such as 50 provided with ports 51 adapted to be arranged facing downwardly is arranged transverse the standpipe 11 and is arranged therein in a tubular member 52 projecting from the wall of standpipe 11, the tubular member 50 being provided with a flange 53 which matingly engages with flange 54 of the tubular member 52 and is adapted to be bolted thereto for connection into the standpipe 11. The tubular member 55) is provided with an air valve 55 for introducing gasiform fluid such as air or steam through line 56. The tubular member 50 projects through the wall of the standpipe 11 opposite the tubular member 52 into a tubular member 57 provided with a flange 58, the tubular member 50 being sealed in the flange 58 by packing gland S9. Arranged on the end 60 of the tubular member 50 is a valve 61 connected to the flange 62 with the valve 61, in turn, being connected into a cleanout means 63 by flange 64. The cleanout means 63 has an opening member 55 which, on removal, opening of valve 61 allows the cleaning out of the elongated tubular member 59 by inserting a rod therein.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the present invention is presented wherein a tubular member is provided for injecting gasiform fluid into each end thereof. In this embodiment, a tubular member 70 provided with downwardly facing ports 71 is arranged in the wall of the standpipe 11 to project through a tubular member 72 provided with a flange 73, a flange 74 being attached to the tubular member 70 for attaching same to the flange 73 by bolts to secure it transversely in the standpipe ill. The tubular member 70 has on the end 75 attached thereto a valve 76 connected to an air line or gasiform fluid line 77 by way of which gasiform fluid is introduced into the tubular member 70 for discharge through the ports 71. The opposite end 78 of the elongated tubular member '70 is provided with a valve 79 which also connects into an air line 80 for introduction of gasiform fluid thereby into elongated tubular member 70. The end 78 projects through the standpipe 11 through a tubular member 81 provided with a flange 82 and is sealingly engaged therewith by packing gland 83.

A still further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6 where the Wall of the standpipe 11 is provided with opposed tubular members 85 and 86 through which project a telescopic tubular member 90. The telescopic tubular member 90 has a flange 92 which is attached by bolts to the flange 93 of the tubular member 85. It is to be noted that the telescopic tubular memher 9% is composed of sections 94 and 95, both provided with ports 96 which face downwardly in the standpipe 11 with the section 95 telescoping within the section 94. End 97 of the tubular member 90 is reduced in size and has a valve 98 connected thereinto which, in turn, connects with an air line 99. The opposite end of the tubular member 90 projects through the tubular member 86 and likewise is provided with a flange 92 which connects into a flange 93 similar to the end 97. End 100 is also reduced in size and has a valve 101 attached thereto which connects into an air line 102. Thus, both ends of the tubular member 90 may be introduced into the standpipe 11 and may be telescoped within each other, as shown, and may be readily removed for cleaning.

The device of the present invention is quite important and useful in that satisfactory control of standpipe flow in fluidized solids systems has presented various difiiculties ever since that type of system has come into use. It has been common practice to improve the flow in a standpipe by the use of aeration media added at various elevations in the standpipe to offset the compressive effects of the catalyst on the continuous gas phase. This aeration fluid is added through wall taps that extend only a few inches into the large standpipe. Data has shown that even high velocity air jets at a velocity of to 250 feet per second entering a fluidized bed having a density of about 40 pounds of solid per cubic foot travel less than one foot. Data has also indicated the difficulties involved in getting aeration media into the center of standpipes as shown by the erosion patterns around aeration taps. The velocity of aeration media entering a standpipe is but a small fraction of this (80250 ft./sec.) velocity, but it is quite apparent that very little aeration media ever finds its way to the center of the large standpipes which may run from 30 to 60 inches in diameter. It is also indicated that carefully controlled densities in the standpipes are necessary to maintain their optimum operation.

In accordance with the present invention, aeration media is introduced into standpipes which provide more effective mixing of the gasiform fluid and finely divided solids and thus leads to significantly improved standpipe operations.

The finely divided solids flowing in fluidized solids systems in accordance with the present invention may be finely divided catalyst solids or may be inert materials. This material may have a particle size diameter ranging from about of a micron up to about 150 microns with the majority of the particle size diameters being in the range from about 20 to about 80 microns.

In employing the present invention, the tubular members which extend transverse the standpipes may be suitably constructed of heavy gauge pipe with ports or holes in the bottomside mounted across the diameter of the standpipe. The devices may be employed along a standpipe at about 12-foot vertical intervals with each of the tubular members located from the one above and below to obtain coverage of the cross section. As may be required, an additional tubular member may be added at each elevation 90 from the existing tubular member for better radial distribution. As will be seen from the several embodiments, a valve may be provided on the downstream side of the external flange to allow drilling of the capped end of the internal tubular member for cleaning out, such as by blowing or by use of a rod.

The present invention is quite important and useful.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An aeration device for use with a standpipe provided with means for flowing fluidized finely divided solids downwardly therethrough which comprises an elongated tubular member provided with ports in its wall adapted to be placed in said standpipe intermediate the ends thereof and extend across said standpipe with the ports facing downwardly, means adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of said standpipe for receiving the ends of said tubular member, means attached to one end of said tubular member releasably attachable to one of said receiving means, the end of said tubular member opposite said one end being provided with means for cleaning said tubular member while maintaining said standpipe in operation, and means for injecting gasiform fluid into at least one of the ends of said tubular member whereby said gasiform fluid is injectable into said fluidized solids, said means for flowing finely divided solids downwardly therethrough being arranged above said tubular member.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which means are provided for injecting gasiform fluid into both ends of said tubular member.

3. An aeration device for use with a standpipe provided with means for flowing fluidized finely divided solids downwardly therethrough which comprises an elongated tubular member provided with ports in its wall adapted to be placed in said standpipe intermediate the ends thereof and extend across said standpipe with the ports facing downwardly, means adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of said standpipe for receiving the ends of said tubular member, means attached to one end of said tubular member releasably attachable to one of said receiving means, the end of said tubular member opposite said one end being closed, said closed end being provided with means for opening same while maintaining said standpipe in operation, and means for injecting gasiform fluid into said one end opposite said closed end whereby said gasiform fluid is injectable into said fluidized solids, said means for flowing finely divided solids downwardly therethrough being arranged above said tubular member.

4. An aeration device for use with a standpipe provided with means for flowing fluidized finely divided solids downwardly therethrough which comprises an elongated telescopic tubular member provided with ports in its wall adapted to be placed in said standpipe intermediate the ends thereof and extend across said standpipe with the ports facing downwardly, means adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of said standpipe for receiving the ends of said tubular member, means attached to one end of said tubular member releasably attachable to one of said receiving means, the end of said tubular member opposite said one end being closed, said closed end being provided with means for opening same while maintaining said standpipe in operation, and means for injecting gasiform fluid into said one end opposite said closed end whereby said gasiform fluid is injectable into said fluidized solids, said means for flowing finely divided solids downwardly therethrough being arranged above said tubular member.

5. An aeration device which comprises a standpipe adapted to contain fluidized finely divided solids, said standpipe being provided with means for flowing said solids downwardly therethrough, an elongated tubular member provided with ports in its wall placed in said standpipe intermediate the ends thereof and extending across said standpipe with the ports facing downwardly, means adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of said standpipe for receiving the ends of said tubular member, means attached to one end of said tubular member releasably attachable to one of said receiving means, the end of said tubular member opposite said one end being closed, said closed end being provided with means for opening same while maintaining said standpipe in operation, and means for injecting gasiform fluid into said one end opposite said closed end whereby said gasiform fluid is injectable into said fluidized solids, said means for flowing finely divided solids downwardly therethrough being arranged above said tubular member.

6. An aeration device which comprises a standpipe adapted to contain fluidized finely divided solids, said standpipe being provided with means for flowing said solids downwardly therethrough, a plurality of vertically spaced-apart elongated tubular members provided with ports in its wall removably placed in said standpipe intermediate the ends thereof and extending across said standpipe with the ports facing downwardly, means adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of said standpipe for receiving the ends of each of said tubular members, means attached to one end of each of said tubular members releasably attachable to one of said receiving means, the end of said tubular members opposite said one end being closed, said closed end being provided with means for opening same while maintaining said standpipe in operation, and means for injecting gasiform fluid into said end opposite said closed end whereby said gasiform fluid is injectable into said fluidized solids, said means for flowing finely divided solids downwardly therethrough being arranged above said tubular member.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 in which alternate tubular members are rotated from each other.

8. An aeration device for use with a standpipe provided with means for flowing fluidized finely divided solids downwardly therethrough which comprises an elongated tubular member provided with ports in its wall adapted to be placed in said standpipe intermediate the ends thereof and extend across said standpipe with the ports facing downwardly, flange means adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of said standpipe for receiving the ends of said tubular member, means attached to one end of said tubular member releasably attachable to one of said flange receiving means, and means for injecting gasiform fluid into said one end whereby said gasiform fluid is injectable into said fluidized solids, the other end of said tubular member being provided with a normally closed valve and being sealingly and removably arranged within the flange receiving means opposite said one end, said means for flowing finely divided solids downwardly therethrough being arranged above said tubular member.

Lindsay July 5, 1955 Taylor Nov. 20, 1956 

1. AN AERATION DEVICE FOR USE WITH A STANDPIPE PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR FLOWING FLUIDIZED FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS DOWNWARDLY THERETHROUGH WHICH COMPRISES AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER PROVIDED WITH PORTS IN ITS WALL ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN SAID STANDPIPE INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND EXTEND ACROSS SAID STANDPIPE WITH THE PORTS FACING DOWNWARDLY, MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ARRANGED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID STANDPIPE FOR RECEIVING THE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, MEANS ATTACHED TO ONE END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER RELEASABLY ATTACHABLE TO ONE OF SAID RECEIVING MEANS, THE END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER OPPOSITE SAID ONE END BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR CLEANING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER WHILE MAINTAINING SAID STANDPIPE IN OPERATION, AND MEANS FOR INJECTING GASIFORM FLUID INTO AT LEAST ONE OF THE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER WHEREBY SAID GASIFORM FLUID IS INJECTABLE INTO SAID FLUIDIZED SOLIDS, SAID MEANS FOR FLOWING FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS DOWNWARDLY THERETHROUGH BEING ARRANGED ABOVE SAID TUBULAR MEMBER. 